By Van N. Williams
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq

KIRKUK — More than 600 Iraqi Army (IA) Soldiers completed an intense, month-long Warfighter Training Course at the K1 Regional Training Center here, March 12.

According to IA Staff Lt. Gen. Husayn Jasim Dohi, deputy chief of staff for training, the Soldiers were instructed on small and intermediate weapons, IED awareness and prevention, and checkpoint procedures. 

The battalion also practiced patrolling in a MOUT (Military Operations on Urban Terrain), that simulated a village with homes and a hospital. Ethics were also covered during the training.

“Good training without values is not good.  You become an Army of criminals and the people don’t respect you,” Husayn told his officers.

The Warfighter Training Course will be taught to Iraq’s Soldiers in a process that will bring a single standard of professionalism to the Army, according to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Steven Salazar, deputy commanding general, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, Joint Headquarters Army Advisory Training Team.    

Speaking during a briefing with senior Iraqi and Coalition officers, Salazar reminded the group that, “The training is hard.  It’s supposed to be hard; you are supposed to get dirty.  We’re not here to make it easy.  We’re here to train Soldiers.” Husayn agreed and quoted an old Iraqi saying, “Follow the man who makes you cry, not the man who makes you laugh and you will be stronger for it.”

This training has become part of the continuous rebuilding effort of the Iraqi Army to professionalize itself through use of realistic events.   Warfighter training is one more vital step toward ensuring Iraq’s self-sufficiency during the critical transition from Coalition to Iraqi-led operations in support of the Security Agreement between Iraq and the United States.